Colic is when a baby cries uncontrollable, for no apparent reason. Colic is usually diagnosed when a baby has these crying episodes for at least three hours, for three consecutive days. The cause of colic is not known, which makes treatment very difficult. There are many opinions and possibilities as to the cause of colic and this is what doctors use to help explore treatment methods.

The main ideas about what causes colic are related to the baby’s under developed system, food and digestive issues. It has been thought that milk allergies and breast-feeding mother’s diets may be to blame. One of the most held belief’s is that it is caused by intestinal contractions or gas. Also thought to be a factor is hormonal and nervous system issues caused from being underdeveloped. However, none of these reasons have been proven, though, due to the inconsistencies with babies who develop colic.

There have been no common underlying factors with babies that develop colic. This is what makes defining one cause very difficult. The only thing that is known is what does not effect a baby’s chance of getting colic. Being a first time parent, the choice of feeding method, medication or even gender all do not play a role in what babies develop colic and what babies do not. Without a defining factor, finding the cause is not going to happen. Without a cause, treatment is difficult.

Until a cause for colic can be pinned down it is hard to develop a definitive solution or treatment. Colic can strike any baby, no matter their family history, how experienced their parents are or how they are fed. It is a random problem without a known cause. The good thing is that colic is relatively harmless and the baby will grow out of it.